So you need to get to class fast. Or work. Walking is just not going to be quick enough. So, you grab your skateboard from the corner of the room, run down the stairs, and hit the hills of Gainesville as you weave through the crowd of students also rushing to class. This, of course, is just my vision. Skateboarding takes practice. It is also a great source of exercise. So my first thought was ‘when do we get started?’
First, you need a skateboard. Actually, you can use a skateboard, longboard, or penny board. Actual skateboards are mostly used at skate parks for tricks. Longboards are used more often for costing and long distance. Penny boards are a combination of the two, used more for fun. I ended up getting a longboard because I was told it would serve me better on campus. (I did tell you I was trying this with you right?) I bought mine from Sports Authority. Feel free to shop around.
Now comes my problem: Miami’s weather is even worse than the weather in Gainesville. While I am glad for the smooth roads and lack of hills here, I am extremely disappointed that every single day this week, it has rained. Every single day. Which, as you can imagine, did not afford me much time to practice. So I had to be ready for the hour of clear skies in between the storms. The minute the rain stopped, I grabbed my board and headed out into the humidity that slightly resembles sticking your hand in the dryer in the middle of a cycle.
Once you have your helmet on (this is very important) and whatever other pads you may feel necessary (a butt pad may not be remiss) you can step on the board. There are no rules as to which foot you should place on the board and which you should kick with; whichever you are more comfortable with is the one you should use.
Now comes the exercise. Once you start kicking, you should start sweating, at least if you are anywhere in the South this summer. Eventually, if you are able to practice for long amounts of time, you will start to feel a little soreness in your legs. I certainly did, although it did not last long before it started pouring again. While you are riding, you should be in a bit of a squat, which definitely will work out your quads. The constant shifting of your feet from parallel to perpendicular with the board will also have the same affect. I also got a little cardio out of it, riding up and down the street. Take few breaks and just keep going. Be prepared to take a couple spills, get back up, and brush yourself off. This is also a subtle core workout; without your core, you will not be able to keep your balance on the board.
Most people walk to class. Some take their bike, which is also good exercise. But as someone who has suffered from the rampant bike thievery on campus, I was not eager to buy another. I can keep my skateboard in my room, and it will be easy to store under my seat when I get to class. It is also a good form of exercise that uses different muscles from that used in walking. For anyone looking for something new, exciting, and useful in the world of working out, this is something I definitely recommend.
